Ruto urges Trump to renew AGOA deal ahead of September expiry
He made call during phone conversation with Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday evening
President William Ruto has urged the United States to renew the US government to support the renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), describing it as a comprehensive framework between the US and Africa.
In a statement, the President said he discussed the issue during a telephone conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday evening which dwelt on several issues of mutual interest, namely trade, regional and international peace and security.
The AGOA deal allows duty-free access for some products from 32 sub-Saharan African countries to the US, which totaled US$9.7 billion in value last year but is set to expire on September 30 this year. There are, however, fears the Donald Trump administration may not renew it as he pushes ahead with US trade priorities, which has seen him impose tariffs on imports from various countries.
Ruto, however, said he agreed with Rubio on the necessity of greater engagement of the US Department of Commerce in facilitation growth of trade with Africa.
During the call, he said they also discussed the situation in Haiti during which Rubio reaffirmed the strong US support for the Kenya-led effort to stabilise Haiti.
“In this regard, I welcome his support for the effort to secure sustainable UN support for the Multi-National Security Support Mission,” he said.
Ruto also said he thanked President Trump for appointing Massad Boulos as Special Envoy to the Great Lakes region, a move that signals a strong US government commitment to Africa’s regional stability, peace initiatives and resolution of conflicts.
On the peace and security situation in our region, Rubio thanked Kenya for the leadership role it is playing in the search for peace and resolution of conflicts.
In this regard, the president said he briefed him on the Joint Summit of Heads of State of the EAC-SADC on the DRC peace initiative, held on Monday; on Kenya’s role in providing forum for the engagement of diverse Sudanese actors to engage in an effort to restore civilian governance, and also our efforts with other partners including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in engaging the combatants on the need for dialogue and silencing the guns.
“In South Sudan, I updated the Secretary of State of the current situation and the initiatives we are engaged in to encourage the government and opposition to re-engage, de-escalate violence and rededicate themselves to the search for peace,” the statement said.
He also briefed him on escalating terrorist activities in Somalia and the necessity for the two countries to work together in confronting this threat to Kenya’s interests as well as to international peace and security.
